Video: LEOs save baby being held by robbery suspect as human shield

The video shows officers getting into a struggle with the suspect as they tried to pry the child from her arms

By PoliceOne Staff

MURPHY, Texas — Cellphone footage shows Texas officers rescuing a baby from a bank robbery suspect who police said used the child as a human shield.

Authorities said 36-year-old Evelyn Misumi walked into a Bank of America branch Wednesday with gasoline and lighter fluid, ABC News reported. Police said Misumi dumped the gasoline and lighter fluid on the floor and demanded cash.

Misumi tried to flee the scene after realizing employees had called the police. Officers with the Murphy Police Department were already outside the bank by the time she tried to flee, the department said in a statement.

“Police elected not to draw weapons as no immediate danger to themselves or surrounding individuals was apparent,” according to the statement. “They did, however, attempt to impede her escape by tasing her. When that proved unsuccessful, officers used pepper spray on the woman.”

Police said Misumi made it to a car and “pulled a small child out of the vehicle and attempted to use the child as a shield.” Three officers then rushed over to rescue the child, which was captured on video.

The video shows officers getting into a struggle with Misumi as they tried to pry the child from the suspect’s arms. Officers eventually managed to recover the baby and took Misumi into custody.

No one was injured during the incident.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the child was taken to Children’s Medical Center to ensure that the child did not suffer any consequences from the pepper spray that had been used on the woman,” the police department said.

Misumi faces charges of robbery and child endangerment. Police were working to verify the suspect’s relationship to the child.